Loads of people made a big deal out of in in the race thread. A "slap in the face" to fans and so on.
Like I said, i don't think it was the main problem, it was just a very visible symptom of the whole thing. The main problem is that a race didn't take place and the second problem is that, for business reasons, points were awarded. The podium procession was just an offshoot of those problems.
It would have been far worse if the fans were forced to go home having seen nothing at all, and if all the heroic efforts in qualifying counted for absolutely nothing. Have the people moaning asked if any of the fans who actually attended the circuit would have been happier if they just saw nothing instead of those few laps behind the safety car and a podium? Would they really have been happier to go home having wasted the entire day? Given that the medical car had been circulating and saying the grip levels weren't bad, it's better that they at least made one last attempt, however half arsed, to send the cars out and see how the track conditions were than to not have bothered at all.
The tickets already cover the support races etc, which ran fine in the same conditions. Domenicali has already stated very clearly that there were no commercial reasons behind going back out, and nobody has identified any actual terms and conditions that show that it would affect refunds or otherwise - that's little more than a conspiracy theory some people have been throwing out there.
Well, I don't claim to be an expert. So I don't really know what else can be said about it that hasn't already been said. It's unfortunate that the race didn't happen but I'll just dry my tears and wait for the next race at the weekend.
I don’t see this anywhere on George Russell’s Twitter?
It's just a rumour, though it's been widely reported. It was also widely reported that he'd be announced for Mercedes back in Silverstone and that never happened so I'll wait for something official.
Not Russell’s Twitter, it was just mentioned on Twitter by one of those ITK accounts
Maybe look at swapping France and Belgium over. The closer you can get the Belgian Grand Prix to the June 21st solstice the less likely you'll be washed out and the more daylight you can play with if it is inclement.
Meanwhile Paul Ricard is in the south of France so the weather tends to stay more pleasant longer into the Autumn and even if it rains, it stands to reason that a test track with artificial sprinklers would have good drainage and those wide run offs with the abrasive tarmac should prevent any serious shunts from causing any traumatic injury.
Article on Racefans reckons Russell to Merc, Bottas and De Vries to Alfa Romeo, Albon to Williams. Giovanazzi, Kimi gone. Makes a lot of sense to me.
A double hit on Mercedes-Benz by Sauber 🤔 and possibly the first transfer from Formula E to F1.
Makes no sense at all. Why should Sauber favor a Mercedes junior that didn't do as well as illott or Schumacher who are Ferrari academy drivers. Shwartzman would also make more sense than that.
Albon to Williams? Why would red bull pay a fifth cockpit when they can axe Tsunoda or Gasly.
What do you expect, it's LinkedIn.
I think the idea is that Albon would cut ties with Red Bull ala Carlos Sainz when he moved to McLaren.
The red bull/ alpha tauri situation is interesting, perez is extended till 2022, surely if gasly keeps going the way he is they'll have to look at him to come in for perez for 2023?
Tsunoda is hardly pulling up any trees (of course its his rookie season) but another year like that season in 2022 I think he may lose his seat, could potentially be two Alpha tauri seats going for 2023 if albon would want to wait that long.
Gasly might be eyed by Alpine for 2023.
Tsunoda has another year and until then one of the red bull academy drivers might be ready to step up.
Yeah Albon could take that chance, but ocon took a chance like that and ended up out if the sport for a year. According to Joe Saward, Ocon signed with Alpine a few weeks ago precisely because he knew Bottas would be coming on the market and if he wasn't careful he would end up without a drive again. The moral of the story is that one bird in the hand...
Albon might gladly take a seat at Williams. One year out is bad enough, 2 years out could be fatal and there's no guarantee he would even get a drive in 2023.
Alpine have Oscar Piastri on their books, he's won the Formula Renault and F3 titles in the last 2 years and currently leading the F2 championship. If he goes on to win the championship I could see him spending next year as test/reserve driver and in with a shout of a race seat for 2023
Joe saward is talking about the albon-williams connection. He said that last week Latifi had an uncertain covid test and Williams sounded out Albon over anyone else to replace him. Latifi was fine so it didn't come to anything.
But he reckons Albon is a good fit for Williams as they want a decent driver who is young and can stay around for a long time as the team improves from their new money.
He said Albon isn't the only good option for them but that's where the connection was made.
He also seems certain Qatar will be the TBC race.
This should be a fun lap for the drivers.
The line in and out of the early banked turn looks wild.
Is the only likely overtaking opportunity into turn 1?
Kimi has announced his retirement......
He's probably delighted he doesn't have to do anymore pr
That's a bit of a relief. Was a great racer but had a career of two halves. Clinging on by reputation for the last few years.
Now everyone can reflect on the good things he did as a driver instead of eagerly anticipating his retirement.
I wonder if Alfa will keep Gio. I presume not.
Ferrari engine in the Alfa means they'll want one of their academy drivers, or any Italian with a super license.
Liked having Kimi in F1 but the last year or 2 haven't been great. Great career all the same, probably should have had more than 1 championship.
Rumours they want to drop Ferrari and go with Merc
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.essentiallysports.com/f1-news-reports-alfa-romeo-looking-to-ditch-ferrari-f1-engines-for-mercedes-in-bombshell-update/amp/
Definitely should have had more than one championship if the Maclarens and there Merc engines had not let him down so much in the early 00s when he was with Mclaren.
Delighted he is retiring do. He was at nothing this late in his career in a midfield team. I always liked him but his time has come and gone. He had some good times and some great races but it's time for someone new to come in now.
Is there not a limit on how many teams Mercedes can supply?
I think I remember that cropping up when McLaren were signing with them.
That tight Turn 1 could see some chaos at the start — reminds me of Spa.
I wonder if we'll ever see a Renault engine in another team again?
Kimi, well that incident where he clips the wheel coming into the pits did seem a bit of a "senior moment", but as many have said Kimi has been in F1 since Sauber looked like a hybrid between Mercedes-Benz and Red Bull.
